Highway warning signal



c. E. PETERSON I HIGHWAY WARNING SIGNAL Sept. 14 192.6.

Filed Dec. Q0. 1925 Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

CARL E. PETERSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

HIGHWAY WARNING SIGNAL.

Application fil ed December The invention relates to devices for warning the drivers of vehicles onpublic high- Ways that they are approaching danger zones, such for instance as railway crossings, oneway bridges, and the like, and has for its object the provision of a warning signal consistingof a metal casting of suflicient thickness to maintain the Weight of vehiclesthat might pass thereover, said casting being curved transversely and having its edges formed with inclined surfaces. The-casting is adapted to be molded into the surface of the highway and to be securely held therein by the inclined edges of the casting being engaged'by the material of the highway. The casting forms a ridge or hump arranged transversely of the highway to induce drivers of vehicles toslow down before passing over it so that they may realize that there is danger ahead of them.

A further object of the invention is the provision of warning signals arranged on the casting and consisting of blocks of colored glass inset in the casting and so positioned that the light of vehicles approaching the ridge or hump will illuminate them and serve as a warning at night to the drivers of vehicles of a dangerous condition ahead and induce them to slacken speed before reaching the ridge or hump.

The invention will be described in detail hereinafter and will be found illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan View of the improved warning signal,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the signal in use in a roadway having side curbs,

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a fragment of a roadway at a railroad crossing, showing the signals in place on each side thereof.

In the drawings similar reference characters will be used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The invention comprises castings adapted to be inserted in a highway and extend above the surface so that the drivers of vehicles approaching the device will be induced to slow down to prevent undue jar and shock to the vehicle, or if not observed in time to slow down the device will serve as a warning that there is danger ahead and the driver 10, 1925. Serial No. 74,571.

ate castings 2 and providing end castings 1 of varying lengths, the device may be adapt-. Cast ed'to use on roads of different widths. ings 1 and 2 are as shown formed with sloping sides so that when positioned in the roadway they will form a hump or ridge transversely of the roadway and extending above the surface thereof. Castings 1 also have their outer ends sloped downwardly as shown at 1 to permit surface water to pass aroundthe device when inserted in a roadway having curbs indicated at The sloping sides of casting 2 are designated 3 andare'supported by transverse ribs 4, while the middle of the casting is supported by a longitudinal rib 5.

The ends 6 of castings '1 are provided with inset shoulders 7, while the ends 8 of casting 2 have overhanging lips or projections 9 that seat on shoulders 7 when in position.

Castings 1 and 2 have their lower edges beveled or inclined outwardly as shown at 10, so that when they are placed in position in the roadway, the surface material of the roadway 11 by engaging said sloping sides 10 will securely hold the castings in position. The material of the roadway also supports the castings by engaging the ribs 4: and 5.

Castings 1 and 2 are formed with integral sockets 12 in which are mounted blocks of glass or other suitable material, designated 13, said blocks of glass being of a distinctive color such for instance as red, or green, and are designed to be illuminated at night by the light from'the headlights of approaching vehicles and serve as a danger or warning signal for the drivers of the vehicles.

The casting 2 is also provided with a warnin direction, such for instance as the word low, as shown in the drawing, and as shown in the drawings the block of colored glass in said casting 2 may be utilized for the letter O of the word Slow and thus make the warning more distinctive and arresting.

In Figure a highway at a railway warning signal in position, the highway being designated B and the crossing C. It will be apparent that the arrangement as shown in Figure 4 will effectively warn drivers that they are approaching a danger zone, and, as the danger signals that are designated D in the diagrammatic view will be placed at a. sufficient distance from the crossing C to insure safety to the trallic by compelling reaching the crossing, that travel on highways will be made safer.

What is claimed is 1. A highway warning signal, comprising an obstruction adapted to be placed in a highway in the. course of vehicle traffic and consisting of a casting having upwardly sloping sides and its edges embedded in the 4 is shown diagrammatically crossing with a surface of the highway transversely thereof, and the part of said casting intermediate its edges being raised above the contiguous surface of the highway, said casting constituting an obstruction to said vehicular trafiic to induce slackening of the speed of vehicles.

2. A highway warning signal, comprising a casting adapted to be seated in the surface material of the highway and having inclined edges to be engaged by said surthe drivers to slow down before face material, the portion of said casting intermediate the edges having upwardly sloplng sides forming a ridge, and longitudinal and transverse strengthening ribs supporting said sloping sides to be seated on the highway surface.

A highway warning signal, comprising a plurality of mating castings adapted to be placed across a vehicular highway and extending above the surface thereof, said mating castings comprising end portions and an intermediate portion, said intermediate portions and end portions having overlapping joints and held in position by being imbedded in the highway material, and the upper surfaces of said castings having sloping sides.

f. A a plurality of castings adapted to be arranged end to end across a vehicular highway, said castings having overlapping oints and adapted to extend above the surface of the highway, said castings having their upper surfaces formed with sloping sides and their side edges inclined outwardly and adapted to be engaged by the material of the highway to hold them in position, and said castings being hollow and having reinforcing ribs adapted to be engaged by the material of the highway.

111 testimony whereof I aihx my signature.

CARL E. PETERSON.

highway warning signal, comprising 

